Adjustable mold for forming leather diaphragms



Aug. 7, 1923.

E. M. MORAN ADJUSTABLE MOLD FOR FORMING LEATHER DIAPHRAGMS Filed Nov.14. 1922 INVEN TOR. EDWAPD M. MORAN.

f ATTO NEYS.

Patented Aug. 7, 1923 Iran STATES EDWARD M. MORAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE MOLD roe FORMING LEATHER nIArHnAeMs.

Application filed November 14, 1922. Serial No. $00,930.

T all 'w/wmit may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. MoRAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of San Francisco, and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful I Improvements in an AdjustableMold for Forming Leather Diaphragms, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a mold and espe cially to an adjustable moldfor forming or shaping one-piece leather diaphragms,

" ployed are usually dish or cup shaped and such as employed in gasmeters and like devices. T

Practically all gas meters in use today employ leather diaphragms,having an action similar to a bellows. The diaphragms, or rather thechambers closed by the same and having a known capacity, are alternatelyfilled with gas and emptied, imparting pulsations to the diaphragms,which are counted. The diaphragms emhave a uniform diameter andmovement; therefore it it is desired-to moreaseor de crease the capacityof the meter, 1t 1s generally accomplished by changing the size of themeter, etc. I have discoveredthat the capacity of the meter may bevaried by increasing or decreasing the pulsating movement or depth ofthe diaphragms, and I have therefore provided a mold, forming thesubject matter of this application, over which mold meter diaphragms areshaped and which mold may be readily adjustable to produce diaphragms ota des red capacity.

@ne form which my invention may assume I is exemplified in the followingdescription and illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, in which *ig.1 is a central, vertical cross section of the mold.

Fig. 2 is a plan section taken on line 22, Fi 1.

hteferring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, Aindicates the base section of the mold, and B a vertically adjustablehead member. The base and the head supported thereby are circular information and may be supported in any suitable manner, for instance on abench such as indicated at 2. The base consists of an upper circularplate 3, and a clownwardly extending flaring annular flange 1, by whichthe plate 3 is supported. Formed integral with the plate 3 or otherwisesecured thereto is a downwardly extending and the annular flaring basesection 4. The

member 5 also serves as a support for an adjusting screw 7, by whichvertical move ment may be imparted to the plunger and the head. Themoldas a whole isotherwise provided with a cross brace 8, by which the guidesection 5 is reinforced when secured, and it .is further provided withan annular exterior flange 9, the function of which will hereinafter bedescribed.

The head proper consists of a lower circularplate 10 and an upperrounded plate section 11, which may be formed integral with the plate 10or secured thereto as indicated at 12.

In actual operation when it is desired to mold or shape a meterdiaphragm, it is first necessary to blank out the leather. The leatheremployed is usually sheep skin and the blank formed is circular inshape. The blankis first dipped in waterand moistened and it is thenstretched over the head member B and the annular flaring side section 4ot the base.

An elastic band isthen placed around the leather to secure it in placeupon the mold as indicated at 13 and vertical movement is then impartedto the head member B by means of the screw 7 to tightly stretchand shapethe leather and to regulate the depth and capacity of the same. Theleather when being placed in position is smoothed out as much aspossible so that it will conform to the shape of the mold, and it isonly stretched or tightened in place when the rubber band is applied andvertical movement is imparted to the head member B.

The type of diaphragm formed or shaped by this mold is known as aone-piece diaphragm as it is shaped from a single circular sheet ofleather. Diaphragms of this character require an annular flange, such asindicated at 1 1', and this is formed by engagement with the annularflange 9. The diaphragm when snugly fitted and positioned is permitted.to remain until the leather is thoroughly dry. It is then removed bywithdrawing the head B and re leasing the rubber band 13. The shapeproduced will be retained, but it will be found that the leather is toostifi' for the purpose desired and it is therefore necessary to rub orknead the leather between the hands to soften the same, and finally todip the leather in mineral'oil, for instance ordinary lubricating oil toclose the pores in order to render it impervious to. gas. The diaphragmthus prepared is now ready for-reception in the meter and may be securedin any suitable manner; the flange 1a of the diaphragm being perforatedat suitable intervals to receive the securing bolts or other meansemployed.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that the pulsatingmovement imparted to the diaphragm when in position, in themeter, isentirely dependent upon the depth of the diaphragm, and it is furtherunderstood that the pulsating movement increases or decreases. thecapacity of the meter.

lVith the form. of mold here shown, it is,

possible to produce a diaphragm. of practically any depth desired,andthe capacity of a given meter may therefore be readily increased ordecreased.

The operation of applying the leather to the mold is simple and. readilyaccomplished,

and. similarly the removal of thesame, as it, is only necessary towithdraw or lower the head and: release the rubber band when. re-

, moving the diaphragm. The mold. is eX- ceedingly simple, and. easy toadjust and no time is therefore lost. in adjusting it for diaphnagms ofvarying depths.

While certain features of, the present in.-- vention are more or lessspecifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes inform and proportion may be resorted to Within the, scope of, theappended claims similarly that the materials and fin: ish of theseveral] parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment, ofthe manufacturer. may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLettersPatent is 1., An adjustable form comprising a cone shaped basesection, a;. rounded head member.

centrally guided andsupported by the base,

means permitting vertical adjustment of the head member with relation tothe base, and a horizontally disposed annular forming flange carried bythe base.

2. An adjustable form comprising a cylindrical shaped base section,vertically disposed andtapering slightly from end to end, said basemember having its smallest diameterat the upper end, a horizontallydisposed annular forming flange secured exterior of the base,intermediate the top and bottom thereof, a cylindrical shaped guidemember centrally disposed in the base, a plunger vertically movable inthe cylindrical guide member, an adjusting screw secured in the lowerend of the cylindrical guide member and engageable with the plunger tovertically adjust the position thereof, and a circular shaped headmember secured to the plunger and movable in unison therewith.

3. An adjustable form comprising a cylindrical shaped base section,vertically disposed and tapering slightly from end to end, said basemember having its smallest diameter at the upper end, a horizontallydisposed, annular forming flange secured exterior of the base,intermediate the. top and bottom thereof, a cylindrical. shaped guidemember centrally disposed in the base, a plunger vertically movable inthe cylindrical guide member, an adjusting screw secured in the lowerend of the cylindrical guide member and engageable with the plunger tovertically adjust the position thereof, a circular disk having. adiameter equal to the upper end of'the base section secured to theplunger, and a dish shaped circular head member secured to said plate.

4. An adjustable form comprising a. cone shaped base section, a roundedhead. member centrally guided and supported by the base, a horizontallydisposed annular forming. flange carried by the base, means permitting.vertical adj ustment of the head member with relation to the forming.flange and the base, and an elastic retaining ri ng adapted to surroundthe base and cooperating with the forming flange.

EDWARD M. MORAIT,

